APHC010316182026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] WEDNESDAY, THE 15th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5053/2026 Between: SAJITH CHANDRAN, ,S/O CHANDRAN, AGED 23 YEARS,R/O CHUNDALE ESTATE, KAPPAMKUNNU,CHUNDALE POST, WAYANAD DISTRICT,STATE OF KERALA, PIN. 673123. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, ,Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradeshat Amaravati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: DASARI RAMAKOTESWAR RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5053 of 2026 Dated 15.07.2026 The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.3 on bail in connection with Crime No.155 of 2026 of Gopalapatnam Police Station, Visakhapatnam District, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.3 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(B) read with 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Mr.D.Rama Koteswara Rao, the learned counsel for the Petitioner, submits that the Petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and he has been falsely implicated in the alleged offence. He has not committed any offence. He is a law-abiding citizen. He has got fixed abode. The Petitioner undertakes to abide by any conditions that this Court may impose while granting bail to the Petitioner. Therefore, he prays that the present petition be allowed. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Rohit, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner, submitting that the investigation is still underway and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that if the petitioner is released on bail at this stage, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5053 of 2026 Dated 15.07.2026 the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. In view of the foregoing submissions, it is urged that the petition be dismissed. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the petitioner is a resident of Kerala State. There are no similar adverse antecedents reported against the petitioner. However, the investigation is not yet completed. So far, only three witnesses have been examined. The laboratory report is awaited, and the inventory proceedings have also not been completed. The petitioner was arrested on the spot along with Accused Nos.1 and 2. The allegation against the petitioner is that he was found in conscious and illegal possession and transportation of 10.760 kgs of ganja. It is further alleged that, out of the agreed sale consideration of Rs.50,000/- for the contraband, the petitioner paid an amount of Rs.10,000/-. The petitioner was arrested on 12.06.2026 and has been in judicial custody for the past 33 days only. 6. Having regard to the entire facts and circumstances of the case, the pendency of the investigation, and the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the petitioner/Accused No.3, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner/Accused No.3 on bail at this juncture. Accordingly, this Court finds no merit in the Criminal Petition, and the same is liable to be dismissed. 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5053 of 2026 Dated 15.07.2026 As a sequel, Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall stand closed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 15.07.2026 RSI Whether the order is : Speaking Yes/No / Reasoned Yes/No Reportable Yes/No / Non-Reportable Yes/No 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5053 of 2026 Dated 15.07.2026 144 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5053 of 2026 Date: 15.07.2026 RSI